Piper PA-30 accident near Jefferson, Georgia, September 18, 2008
On September 18, 2008 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7195Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jefferson, Georgia (Jackson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the airplane manufacturer's landing gear failure and emergency extension procedures. Contributing to the accident was a malfunction of the landing gear system for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2008 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Jefferson, Georgia · Jackson County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7195Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon arrival at his destination airport, the pilot of a PA-30 attempted to extend his landing gear in preparation for landing. He discovered that one of the landing gear system circuit breakers had tripped. He attempted to reset the circuit breaker, but it would not reset. He then attempted to reset it a second time and was successful; he observed that the "green" landing gear down light was illuminated. During the landing roll, however, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane was substantially damaged. During the recovery of the airplane, when the master switch was turned on by the pilot, the landing gear dropped into the extended position. During interviews with the pilot, it was discovered that after the circuit breaker was reset, he did not continue with the "landing gear failure and manual gear extension" procedure, which was published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the accident airplane. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the landing gear would extend and lock in the down position when the procedure was utilized.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,549 hours in all; 656 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,471 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 16, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,124.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 19A Jefferson GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,109 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Observation at 7:40 pm from WDR, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.